Exploring oneness (“nondual awareness”) as a mechanism of mindfulness
December 16, 2024 Van Lente, Eric
Oneness or nondual awareness—an experiential state of dissolving boundaries between self and world—may be a key mechanism through which mindfulness improves wellbeing. Across three studies, expert meditators identified seven themes of oneness, including foundational orientations (wholeness, unboundedness) that influence other aspects. A new 84-item scale measuring 21 factors of oneness showed good validity. In a structural equation model, oneness significantly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and wellbeing indicators, suggesting that fostering oneness experiences could amplify mindfulness's positive effects.